Chapter Text
“Your wedding story sounds like a movie!” chanted Cameron, on the dinner table.
Joe thought it’d be better to talk to his family about what happened earlier over dinner, at his parents’ house. John was wanting to tell them news too, and accepted the invitation.
“Hey, and what happened with your head, Cam?” asked Joe, seeing a purple bruise on his brother’s head.
“Oh. This was...I fell over today at class. You know me, I’m clumsy.” And the boy turned his attention again to his food.
Then the ginger actor eyed his other brother, who’s just eating his smashed potato and rice quietly, which is unusual. “Are you okay, Luke? Cam’s just commented about my wedding and you didn’t throw your plate against the wall.”
“Joe, don’t poke at him.” Asked Veronica, tired with this feud.
John looked up at the exact moment Luke gave a scary look to Joe, but the teenager didn’t say a word. The man thought that maybe it was time for another talk with his youngest son.
“Can we, please, talk about something more light?” Veronica tried, after some moments of silence.
“I have some news.” John cleared his throat, and four pairs of eyes stared at him. He was nervous, even though he didn’t need to.
It was nothing too serious, so he didn’t have to be afraid. After all he’s an adult, he could do whatever he wanted with his life. But that’s not the problem. What’s really worrying him was what came after speaking.
Because it’d make everything real. Him being back with Queen would be real.
And everything he worked so much on, to build his life could turn into dust in a blink of an eye.
“Brian, Freddie and Roger made me an offer to play with them in their next album. And I accepted it.” John spoke, trying to be neutral.
Veronica blinked to him, in shock, like she never saw this side of her husband before. Her sons were puzzled, a bit intrigued with the upcoming news.
“But you never looked interested to play again.” Commented Cam. “Dad, you never played in another band.”
“And coming back to Queen looks a little...too much.” Added Joe.
“Relax.” Smiled John. “I’m not going on tour with them. It’s just bass riffs, that’s all.”
“John.” The couple looked at each other, and John sensed the worry on his wife’s face. “Are you sure it’s a good idea?”
I know it’s not. “It’s just to chill, to remember the old times. A friends’ reunion, nothing else.”
He knew Veronica would comment more later, because she only wiggled her eyebrows, unbelieving, and restarted to eat. With no more remarks, the dinner continued.
John was scared as hell with the unknown problems that his choice could contain, but with the same strength he felt a force pulling him to play again with Freddie, with Brian and with Roger.
The sonic volcano would have a rebound. Musically, of course.
And John waited for Veronica to go to bed and Joe to go to his own house so he could knock on Luke’s bedroom’s door. He hated all the times he had to have this conversation with his son, especially because he never thought he’d have to have it. But before he could wonder again what happened with Luke to go to the wrong side, John heard a “I’m busy.” from the other side of the door.
“It’s me, Luke.” Called John.
“Oh, gosh.” Groaned in a low tone for the boy, but John heard it anyway. And in a louder voice he added “Come on in, then.”
John entered the room with a plain expression. Luke was laid down on his bed, his laptop on his lap, and the older man heard a man talking about Greek History before Luke paused it.
From all three kids, John knew Luke was the smartest – of course he never said it out loud. The boy worked hard in class and he’s always one of the best of his grade. That’s the condition his parents made for him to play in a high school band. Luke’s band was good for a high school band; the members were average, maybe because none of them besides Luke was craving something professionally.
John sat in a chair, in front of Luke, while he stayed sat on his own bed.
“I see you’re trying to make an effort to not fight with Joe.” John started. “And I’m proud of you, but it looks like it isn’t enough for you to change your mind about his marriage.”
“Not this talk again!” whined the boy, looking for his earphones.
John noticed him trying and caught the earphones before Luke. “Yes, this talk again. Because, Luke, in this family we don’t turn our backs on anyone. That’s not what we taught you.”
It was clear that Luke was uncomfortable, and he had something to say about it but he didn’t want to. Eiterway, John understood he would speak at some point so he waited for him, patiently, and as he grew up in their house Luke knew his dad wouldn’t give up easily. John stayed there, calm and unshakable.
“Dad, you don’t understand what I need to hear at my school.” Luke claimed.
“So help me to understand.” Interjected John.
Luke rolled his eyes, knowing it’s a lost battle. “They joke about Joe’s movie. Because he was naked, and made out...with another man.”
“Did you support your brother?”
“Dad! People would think I’m gay too!”
“Are you?”
“No!”
“Then what are you worried about?”
Luke looked down to his own knees, closing his hands on fists. He knew his father wouldn’t understand him.
“People stopped to make fun of me because I’m british just now. I got popular now, people know me, so I don’t want something to happen for me to lose it.”
“But these people you want to know you will be out of your lives in a couple of years. But you will be brother of Joe and Cam forever. So choose wisely in what team you want to be on.” John leaned to kiss Luke’s forehead.
With this he got up and got out of the room, leaving Luke with an awkward feeling in his stomach.
---
Ben was in the kitchen with Roger, waiting for Rory and Tiger’s class to be over, so he could have a serious talk with his sisters. Meanwhile, his father said his news about John playing in the new album with Queen.
Roger imagined that his son’s reaction would be more enthusiastic than it was.
“Did you not enjoy the idea?” asked Roger, still surprised with the lack of emotion from Ben.
“No, dad, I think it’s great.” Nodded the actor. “Mr Deacon is a good bassist and it looks like you four have a great chemistry together.”
Chemistry. That’s a word Roger didn’t hear about him and John for a while. He forced himself to not smirk.
“So what? You’re not thrilled with the news either.”
“I’m just...a bit worried.” Ben frowned, trying to pick the right words. He knew his father’s temper, especially when it was about Queen. “You two restarted to get along just now. Maybe it’s a too forward step to make?”
Roger’d be lying if he said he’s not worried too. Being around John was a ticking bomb, and if he didn’t push the right strands everyone around them could explode.
He needed to be careful this time, because now they weren’t the only ones who could get hurt with it. Ben said about being too forward...but at the same time Roger wanted to be more forward.
“I’m not saying it isn’t nice to see Queen’s original formation, I’m just saying to you both be careful, you know?” Ben complemented.
“We didn’t force him to accept, son. He’s doing it on his own will. Besides we probably won’t have the same opportunity again.”
“Now you sound like you’ll die after my wedding.” Ben giggled.
“Maybe, because you’ll live permanently here, and will forget your old father here in England.”
“Now we know where Ben got his acting skills.” Laughed Rory, getting into the kitchen with Tiger.
Tiger was putting an apple on her mouth when she felt Ben’s eyes on him. He was hearing a serious glance, that one he wore every time he wanted to lecture her and Rory.
Even with their parents as a constant presence in their lives, Ben always had a soft spot in their hearts. He was the best big brother anyone could want for: fun, supportive, who made adventures with them and never got tired with the tea parties and make-up moments. He knew how to talk with them, even being more old than them and was the best confidant of his sisters.
“Uh, uh, Rory. I think we are in trouble.” Said Tiger, still with a mocking tone.
“Yes, you are.” Ben crossed his arms, nodding.
“Go talk with them in their bedroom.” Advised Roger.
Ben knew that being a big brother meant he needed to lecture his sisters sometimes – of course he’d have to do that sometimes, they’re teenagers, they made mistakes. But in general they were good girls and they didn’t get into too much trouble. But right now he needed to have a real talk with them.
To be honest he wished that his parents did this before because he wanted to avoid the expressions the blond knew Rory and Tiger would wear: surprise and disappointment. Ben knew how they would think of him, as someone perfect, flawless. And break this misconception would be hard for him too.
After all, reminding them about all these horrible years, that he wasted almost all his teen years with meaningless feelings of freedom, was still hard for him. But only this way he could help his sisters not to go to the same way.
He cried during the talk with them, saying how much he regretted letting the drugs control him like that, to make him go to a clinic to clean himself. He wanted to talk about the overdose that almost killed him, but the actor didn’t have the courage to.
“I know people say that’s just vaping, but it’s not.” Ben wiped the tears from his face. “Please, promise me you will never put this in your mouths.”
Rory went to the bedroom wardrobe and took two pink filters, walked to Ben and handed it to him. “Take them. We won’t use them again.”
“I know you’re smart.” Ben smiled, opening his arms, and Rory and Tiger hugged him.
“Of course we are.” Said Tiger, making all three of them laugh.
They talked a bit more, now about lighter stuff, and Ben said he needed to talk with their mother, and went out the room.
Tiger waited a moment and opened the bedroom door, to see if Ben was really gone, and she shut the door one more time, looking surprised to see her sister. “Ben really thinks we didn’t know about all this?”
“I guess.” Rory shrugged. “I mean, he spent six months away and he thought we never noticed? He’s nuts.”
Tiger crouched next to her bed and took out a box from under it. “So what are we going to do with this weed? Throw it away?”
“Of course not. Weed can’t hurt us like cocaine hurt Ben. We’re good.”